Our Brigade, which was in the Town to cover the embarkation, moved to cover a road to the right of the position, but were not attacked, or engaged at all, as was expected. We were therefore contemplators only of the gallant and astonishing firmness of our comrades. The 50th and the 42nd suffered most.
During the night most of our army embarked. Genl. Beresford’s Brigade covered the embarkation, having retired into the works of the town. The French approached in the morning close to us. We gave them a warm reception with our 24 prs. assisted by the Spaniards, who on this occasion behaved very well. The enemy fired on our transports most, and several went on shore and were lost in the confusion. Our situation was most critical all the next day and night, till (we) embarked the whole, about one in the morning.
Fortunately the enemy did not fire on the town, and suffered us to embark, (or were totally ignorant of it), without annoying us. We were very weak, just enough to man the works, and dreaded an assault, the boats being able to take only 500 at a time, and weather very bad. However we not only got ourselves but most of the wounded in safety, though all most overcome with fatigue.
Adieu, in hopes of soon seeing you, My dearest Parents. Kindest love to all my friends, from your most affectionate Son,
Wm. Warre.
(Note, in Henry Warre’s writing, “Received 24th Jany. at night.”)
Plymouth, Jany. 23, 1809.
At last, my Dearest Mother, I have the happiness to tell you of our safe arrival at this place. I wrote a few lines in a great hurry from off Coruña, which I hope you received. I long to reach town, and shall set off as soon as possible in a chaise, with Col. Douglas of Wycombe. We go by Bath, where we shall shake the Hardies by the hand, and in 4 days shall, I hope, embrace all my beloved family. I am very far from well, and most in need of rest. A constant bowel complaint, occasioned by fatigue and being constantly wet, has pulled me down very much. I am a mere skeleton, but rest and the happiness of seeing all that is dearest to me will soon, I think, recover me.
To describe our anxiety, and what we went through at Coruña the last day and night, is not easy. Suffice it to say, we had (but for Mr Samuel How) been left behind, and now instead of being in our dear native country, should have been marching prisoners to France. The thought even now makes me shudder. Nearly exhausted and harassed to death, we were in a bad state to undertake such a journey. We, however, were more fortunate and brought off all our sick and wounded except very few.